We can build wealth in all our communities, value public

In the earliest days of civilization, the elders gathered around the hearth to share the wisdom of the ages. They spoke of the importance of community, the shared responsibility of all people to care for one another, and the vital need for each generation to build upon the foundations of the past. In these stories, there was a deep understanding that true wealth was not measured in gold or jewels, but in the well-being of the people, the health of the land, and the prosperity of every member of the community. It is this ancient wisdom that echoes in the words of Michelle Wu: “We can build wealth in all our communities, value public education, plan for our neighborhoods, invest in housing we can afford and transportation that serves everyone, truly fund public health for safety and healing, and deliver on a city Green New Deal for clean air and water, healthy homes, and the brightest future for our children.”

This vision, this call to action, speaks to the very heart of a just society—one where no one is left behind, where every community has the opportunity to thrive. Wu’s words are not merely a policy proposal; they are a blueprint for the future, a future where wealth is shared, where public education is a right and not a privilege, where housing is within reach for all, and where transportation connects rather than divides. It is a vision of a world where the health of the people is prioritized, where safety and healing go hand in hand, and where the environment is cared for as a precious gift to be passed down to future generations.

In the ancient kingdoms, the rulers understood the need to plan for the future, to ensure that the lands they governed were prosperous not just in the present, but for those who would come after them. The great Pharaohs of Egypt built monuments not only to their own power but to the prosperity of their people—creating systems of irrigation to nourish the land, granaries to store food, and roads to connect the nation. Their vision was one of long-term sustainability, where every action they took had a purpose far beyond their own reign, ensuring that their people were not merely surviving but flourishing. In the same way, Michelle Wu’s vision calls us to build for the future, to invest in systems that will serve generations yet unborn, ensuring that all people—regardless of their station—can prosper in a healthy, vibrant world.

It is said that those who fail to plan for the future are doomed to live in its consequences. In the past, civilizations that ignored the needs of their people—whether in terms of public health, housing, or education—often found themselves unraveling under the weight of their neglect. The fall of ancient Rome, for example, came not only from external forces but from internal decay—its leaders failed to plan for the welfare of the common people, leaving them vulnerable to economic collapse and social strife. In contrast, those societies that understood the importance of investing in the future—like the ancient Chinese dynasties who developed sophisticated agricultural techniques and public works projects—left a legacy of prosperity that lasted for centuries.

Michelle Wu’s call to action is a reminder that we must be stewards of the future. She speaks of a Green New Deal, of a future where clean air and water are not the exception but the norm, where healthy homes and a healthy environment are the birthright of every child. This vision, however, requires action—it requires us to look beyond the immediate, beyond our own comfort, and to think long-term. Just as the ancients planted seeds for future harvests, so must we invest in the well-being of our communities, recognizing that the actions we take today will shape the world of tomorrow.

The lesson for us, then, is one of long-term vision and shared responsibility. We must build wealth in our communities, not just for ourselves but for the generations that will follow. We must value education, for it is the key to unlocking the potential of every individual. We must plan for our neighborhoods, ensuring that they are places of safety, health, and opportunity. Investing in affordable housing, sustainable transportation, and public health are not merely acts of charity, but the essential foundations of a prosperous society. We must deliver on the promise of a Green New Deal, not just for the sake of the environment, but for the sake of our children, for the future that we are creating with every decision we make.

In this way, Michelle Wu’s words are not just a policy agenda; they are a call to the heart—a reminder that we are all connected by the shared responsibility to create a world where every person has the chance to thrive, and where the earth itself is nurtured for generations to come. Let us take up this charge with determination, for it is through our collective action that we will build a future worthy of the dreams of our ancestors and the hopes of our children.